The Case for Mitch Marner

I’ve heard all the noise. Loud and clear.

To some fans, Mitch Marner might as well be Tony Romo on skates. Or Chris Paul with a mouth guard. Or Gonzalo Higuain in overtime. If the NHL had a choke-o-meter, Marner would be sword-swallowing at centre ice.

But here’s the thing. Just like it wasn’t Nazem Kadri’s fault back in the Brian Burke Buds era, or Phil Kessel’s fault when he was putting up points and catching strays, the problem isn’t Mitch Marner.

It’s the Maple Leafs.

That team is in a dead marriage with its fan base, and the only thing left is the paperwork. Between the jerseys on the ice, the Dangle meltdowns, and the media playing whack-a-mole, you can see it: the players don’t want to be there anymore.

Sound familiar?

Habs fans should recognize the signs. The toxic atmosphere. The finger-pointing. The great talent soured by dysfunction.

Remember 1995? The Forum crowd mocking Patrick Roy as he gave up goal after goal? Mario Tremblay standing behind the bench like a guy who lost a bet to coach a girl bantam team? That was the beginning of the Canadiens’ long walk through the wilderness. The culture broke. The disconnect between the organization and the fans grew louder than the anthem.

And now? It’s the Leafs’ turn.

Here’s where it gets interesting: that same storm might just push Mitch Marner toward Montreal.

And yes — I’m making the case for the Canadiens to pursue him.

We’re talking about a 90-point winger who also kills penalties, leads the league in takeaways, and plays real, honest two-way hockey. In a market obsessed with heart and hustle, Marner fits better than you think. He’s not just finesse — he’s fire. And if the Leafs can’t see that, maybe Montreal should.

Because the Canadiens aren’t the same old Canadiens anymore.

Under Martin St. Louis, this team is building something that hasn’t been seen in a long time: trust. Culture. Actual joy. You can see it in Suzuki’s leadership, in Caufield’s comfort, in the way players talk about coming to the rink.

It’s not perfect. But it’s not a whistling pressure cooker either — not like Toronto. Not anymore.

Well … not for now.

Marner wouldn’t have to save the team. He’d just have to join it. Add to it. Be one more stone in the foundation.

And then there’s a pairing with Ivan Demidov.

Montreal’s brightest prospect in a few decades. A teenage phenom with unreal hands, real swagger, and no idea what he’s walking into in a full first 82 games in North America. The hype train is already at full speed.

You don’t want to throw that kind of kid into the deep end alone.

Marner could be the guy who shows him the ropes. Who teaches him how to navigate stardom in a city that breathes hockey. Who reminds him to play free — even when the headlines pile up.

That’s the kind of leadership you can’t buy. Unless maybe… you can.

Marner isn’t just a fit on the ice. He’s a cultural match. A bridge between generations. A player who’s been through the storm and came out floating on a door.

Yes a Titanic reference …

Of course, the salary cap will matter. So will Marner’s appetite to switch sides in one of hockey’s oldest rivalries. But sometimes, a change of scenery is all it takes. And there’s something poetic about the idea of Marner, Toronto’s own, writing his redemption arc in Montreal.

We’ve seen this script before. A talented player gets blamed for a team’s deeper flaws. The media turns. The crowd gets restless. The team moves on, thinking subtraction is addition.

And then that player goes somewhere else and thrives.

This might be Montreal’s moment to be the “somewhere else.”

So yes, the Canadiens should make a call.

Because Marner isn’t the problem.

He might just be part of the solution.